Torpedo netting



June 15, 1926 1,588,449

' J. COLOMBO TORPEDO NETTING Filed Feb. 5, 192

Patented June 15, 1926.

UNITED STATES;

f 1,588,449 P EN Q 'FI E- JOHN COLOMBO, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

TORPEDO N'ETTING.

Application filed February 5, 192 Serial No. 86,221.

This invention relates to improvements in torpedo nets, designed to be detachably applied to battleships and other sea going vessels, and has for its object to provide a I; novel, simple and effective netting adapted tobe mounted on the opposite sides of a vessel and partially submerged, for prevent ing torpedoes from reaching and injuring the vessel. A further object is to "provide a net-Work composed of stout flexible metal strands or links, which is mounted upon and interwoven with a plurality of stays or posts; said stays being detachably supported by sockets formed in the armour or other external surface of the hull of the vessel, and said stays beingheld in extended position horizontally by means of said sockets supplemented by cables that preferably extend continuously around the hulls in hori zontal planes, and the cables being held from gravitating and from sagging by suitable fasteners or hangers, which may be disposed at the bow,the stern, as well as at intervals along the opposite sides of the hull. And

particular object is to provide a torpedo net of the class that may be readily and quickly applied to a vessel during times of war, and which may be removed, rolled up and stored on board the vessel during times of peace.

I attain these objects 'by the means set forth in the detailed description which follows, and as illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a plan outline of the hull of a a In thedrawing,2 represents conventionally the hull of a vessel, 3 the how, 4 the stern, and 5 the gunwale.

My improved torpedo net preferably comprisesQ similar sections, as 6-6, which are designed to protect the corresponding sides of the hull from attack and injury by tor- 5 pedoes, mines, and the like. The net proper preferably consists of a relatively coarse I wearing of steel wire-cable stock of suitable of the parts illustrated in gauge, comprising strands 6 which may be disposed diagonally, and similar horizontal and vertical strands ,6 6.

-6 and 6 are all preferably interwoven Wltll' rings 7, and the nets 6'6 are preferably supported'at a suitable distance from the hull 2, by means of horizontal stays or posts 8, which preferably decrease in length from amidshipstowards the bow and stem,

as best seen in Fig. 1.

The wires In the preferred construction, the stays'8 are made of relatively heavy steel or iron tubing 8, as shown in Fig; 3. The inner ends of these tubes are preferably provided with short solid metal cores '8. which are rigidly applied to the tubes, and project tenon-like beyond the ends of the tubes, as at 8? and these tenons are preferably seated in sockets 2, which may be formed in the armour or other material of the hull, asshown in Figs. 1 and? Satisfactory stays, as 9., may be made from solid metal having their inner ends reduced, as at 9, for insertion into the sockets 2, or into sockets 10 formed in plates 10 which may be bolted or otherwise permanently secured to the outer surface of the hull 2, as shown in Fig. 4. vThe outer or free end of each 1 stay 8 is preferably provided with aloop 8,

which'may be an integral part of a cylindrical plug or core 8 which is rigidly applied to the tube 8 thesame as the core 8*. These loops 8 vare provided primarily for facilitating the passing there'through of a relatively heavy cable, as 12, which affords thei'nain support'for the stays after they have been placed in the operative'position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The cable 12 is preferably applied to the topmost row of stays and extends around theentire hull and its ends may be secured in any suitable manner (not shown) at either the bow; or

stern, at which points the cable passes through relatively heavy loop supports 13-13, which are preferably rigidly secured to the hull, asshown at 13 in Figs. 1 and 2. In order to prevent the medial portions of'the cable 12 atthe opposite sides of the hull from sagging, the alternate vertical strands 6? preferably extend upwardly anda-re suitably secured to the gunwale 5, and for this purpose the latter is provided with studs or fasteners 14, which are engaged by'rings 7 carried by the top ends of the said strands. Similar rings 7 are also secured to the strands 6, through .of stays, as shown inFigs. 2 and 3. continuous cables 12 passed through the loops 8 of the middlewhich the cable 12 passes, the rings 7 a pre ferably being arranged to align with the loops 8 of the stays. In the preferred construction, the stays 8 or the top row' are preferably larger and stouter than the stays of the second and third row, but the: middle and lowermost rows of stays maybe of the same size and strength. The alternate vertical strands 6 or the nets preferably connect with the loops 8 or the several rows Smaller and 12 are then and lower rows of stays, and these cables are preferably supported at the bow and sternby similar loop-support 13-13. The tenons 8 are preferably loosely set in the sockets 2, and the stays therefore depend upon the cables 1212"- ];2 and also the vertical strands 6, for holdingv them in their sockets. By this construction and arrange 61 the nets 6 6" may be readily and quickly applied to and removed from the hull by the seamen, In times of peace the nets 6 6 be rolled up and stowed may in the bunkers or may be otherwise conveniently disposed of onboard the vessel; The triangular openings in the nets indicated at 6, are preferably considerably smaller than the diameter or the torpedoes in common use, so that the torpedoes upon approaching the vessel may be prevented from penetrating the nets and making contact with the hull. In case or the detonation or a torpedo that has been stopped by' the net, thefor e or the explosion can not seriously injure the hull of the vessel. When orders are given to apply my improved nets the seamen mirth and lower the nets over the sides of the vessl'while other hands descend on ladders and insert the stays in their roper sockets. While this is being done the cables 12? and 12% if not already attached, may be applied'an'd tightened, andthe strands 6 at the same time may be secured to the fastenin'gs' 14:, as explained.

Having'thu's described my invention, what I claim, is

r 1. Means for protecting ships against torpedoes, mines and the like, comprising a' woven wirenet arranged similar sections adapted to be d'r'ape'd' alongthe opposite.

sides of the'h'ull of the ship, stays of different length" extending between the and the hull, and the stayshaving'loopfs' at their free ends, cables encircling the hull and passing through the loops of the stays, loop-sup:

7 ports mounted at the bow an'd stern of the hull and aligning with the stays for preventing the gravitation or the cables, and

means interposed between the" cables and the gunwale for preventing sagging of the cables and net between the bow and the stern. v h

torpedo net for ships comprising a number of oblique, vertical and horizontal being arranged in parallel horizontal rows,

cables encircling the hull and engaging the. free ends of the stays, and certain of thevertical strands of the net being aranged' to support the medial portions of the cable at the opposite sides of the hull for preventing sagging of the cables.

3. A tropedo net for ships, comprising oblique vertical and horizontal strands of wire woven in oblong section's adapted to protect the 'oppo'site sides or the miller the ship, stays "spose d' in parallel horizontal rows located above and below the normal waterline for supporting thenet at a distance from the sides of the ship, said stays having loops at their outer endscables encircling the hull horizontally and passing throughthe loopsof the stays, loop-supports mounted at the bow and also at the stern for supporting the said cables beyond the ends of said sections and alternate vertical strands of the net engaging-the topmost cable and extending upwardly and being fastened to the gunwal'e' for supporting the portions or the cable extendingbetween the bow the stern. I

l. The combination of a ships hull having sockets formed in horizontal rows above and below the waterline and having fasteners at spaced intervals along the g'unwale, of a torpedo nelt comprising similar sections adapted to be dra ped' around the opposite sides of the hull, said net comprising ob-i lique, vertical I and horizontal wires, the

alternate vertical wires being of difi'erent' length', stays detachably supported by the sockets of the hull having loops to which the oblique and the shorter vertical wires are attached, rings interwoven with the oblique, vertical and horizontal wires the longer vertical wires eXtendingabo-ve the topmost row of stays and engaging the" said fastenings, and cables encircling the hull and passing horizontally through the l psof said stays andelsosthrough rings con: necting with the said longer vertical wires for supporting the sections" at the opposite sides of the hull.

5; The combination with the hull of a vessel having sockets arranged above and below the normal waterline, and loop-supports mounted on the bow and stem of tile hull, of a torpedone't comprising'a' plurality of wires interwoven with a plurality of rings, stays of different length supported by said sockets and extending horizontally for spacing the net from the hull, said stays decreasing in length from amidships toward the bow and stern and having loops at their outer ends, continuous cables encircling the hull and passing through said loop-supports and also through the loops of each row of stays, and certain of said rings and a portion of said wires extending above the topmost cable and being fastened to the gunwale for preventing sagging of the cables between 10 the bow and stem,

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN COLOMBO. 

